Purpose: Check bike after winter maintenance and my physical ability.
www.2-fast.org track day.
Man it was freaking cold! I cant remember the last time I rode when it was that cold. I woke up and the temp was 33 F and found my way 30 miles to the track. Acquiring a trailer was one of the best $$ spent. It gets really old loading all your stuff into the back of a pick up. Now my pickup can barely haul the trailer, one bike + gear/spares and a 5000 watt generator. That only means that now I have to dump the little Nissan pickup and get a gas guzzling SUV or something because I want to be able to haul two bikes, you know, in case any one of you come to Washington State USA and want to go racing or track day
.
Anyways, I had to bed in the new SBS dual carbon brake pads in the parking lot before heading out on the first session. Installed the tire warmers and let the tire cook foe awhile until the 300 class (experts) were called to hit the track. good god, I swear, the temp must have dropped. I took it easy the first few laps then went balls out and pulled back into the pits so I can check the bike for any leaks after the winter maint. All good and back out. I went one more lap as my fingers couldn't handle the cold.
One hour later, I went out again, it was even colder outside at this point, I did 4 whole laps...
About 11:00, it finally felt like the temp was going up so I hit the track again, tires nice and toasty. The bike is flawless, suspension seems to be perfect, tires set to 27-28 psi cold, grip was outstanding. I did feel a little intimidated by turn six for a few laps (that's where I crashed last year) but regained confidence in my tires after a few laps.
Around 1 pm, I got one of the "expert" racers to ride out with me so as to hopefully sign off on one of my novice requirements which is to ride with a club Expert racer. Yes! signed off, now, two more race heats is all have to to get out of novice
+ 3 race weekends (due to rule change and not being grandfathered in)(jerks!) in order to lose my yellow plates. Oh well.
All in all, I had a great time, bike is awesome, and I did learn one thing from this first time out on the bike this year...I need to go back to the gym, Christ, I think I put on at least 10 pounds and I'm hurting today.
I did properly "break in" my Bridgestone BT003, now I'm ready for race meet 2 on may 9th & 10th. I ll keep you posted.
Thanks to Mark DeGross and his 2-fast.org for putting on a great event as usual.
MadManx
